Edge Hill University and Shakespeare North unlock the ‘secret to happiness’ in youth performance
Tue 24 Mar, 2026
Edge Hill University’s pioneering mental health project Arts4Us has joined forces with Shakespeare North Playhouse to debut a showcase exploring heritage, creativity and wellbeing, led by young people.
‘Shakespeare, Youth and the Secret to Human Happiness’, designed for anyone interested in creative health, youth wellbeing and community arts. It will take place on Wednesday 1 April at the iconic Shakespeare North Playhouse. The unique, free event will blend live performance, academic research and interactive discussion to address the most pressing mental health challenges facing young people today.
Arts4Us is a research project designed to support the mental health of children and young people aged 9–13 using arts and arts therapies. As the largest project of its kind in the UK, Arts4Us is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), under the mobilising community assets to tackle health inequalities, and supported by the Jameel Arts and Health Lab.
The project empowers children with mental health challenges to access creative activities that improve their wellbeing.
Professor Vicky Karkou, Arts4Us project lead and Director of Edge Hill’s Research Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, said:
The contribution of the arts to the mental health of children and young people is substantial, deserving time, commitment and resources. In this collaborative event organised by Edge Hill University and Shakespeare North we are saying that this contribution is not only an intuitive connection, but it is underpinned by science and research.
Christopher Bailey, the long-standing lead of the Arts and Health Office at the World Health Organization (WHO), co-founder of the Jameel Arts and Health Lab explained:
This theme is not a recent invention; it has been explored over time through Shakespearean texts and plays as the co-produced performance will show. And finally, and most importantly, we are saying that young people are central in voicing their need to use the arts to express, explore and address burning issues they are faced with.
Christopher Bailey, who since last month has joined Edge Hill University as an honorary fellow for the Research Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, will perform, alongside renowned creatives Ashleigh Nugent and Ben Crystal. Joining them on stage will be students from the Young Arts4Us Panel, performing themes inspired by the Shakespearean canon to reveal universal truths about human happiness.
The evening will conclude with a panel discussion hosted by Lisa Allen, CEO of Shakespeare North Playhouse, featuring:
- Dr Justin Varney-Bennet, Regional Director of Public Health for the South West of England.
- Professor Sandeep Ranote, Clinical Director for Mental Health, NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
- Members of the Young Arts4Us Panel.
Lisa Allen, CEO of Shakespeare North Playhouse, said:
“Creativity has the power to connect and inspire hope, making the arts vital for supporting wellbeing, building confidence, and developing the skills to navigate life. Through events like this, we create space for meaningful dialogue between young people and leaders across sectors, working together to improve mental wellbeing. Shakespeare’s stories remind us of what it means to be human; full of humour and empathy, they explore experiences everyone can relate to which can be a powerful source of happiness.”
Edge Hill University and Shakespeare North Playhouse have been in partnership since 2024; the collaboration was built to drive social impact and foster place-based change by bringing together the strengths of both organisations.
Arts4Us is a massive collaborative effort involving the University of Salford, the University of Liverpool, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Trust, and the Mersey Care, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trusts, alongside various schools and social care organisations.
The event is free to attend, book your place now.
